From June 20 to 28, the Viriato square will once again host the fifth edition of Cinema Jove’s open-air film series High School. This annual cycle has become a space for reflection on adolescence, intergenerational relationships, and the challenges of education, with a carefully curated selection of films that explore these themes across genres, eras, and styles. This year’s edition places a special emphasis on the role of teachers and introduces documentary as a new format within the program.
One of the central themes is the relationship between students and teachers, as portrayed in To Sir, with Love (James Clavell, 1967), a classic starring Sidney Poitier as a teacher trying to earn the respect of a troubled class in a London secondary school. From a more contemporary angle, El método Farrer (Esther Morente, 2023) is a documentary that offers a thoughtful look at the emotional impact of teachers and the inner child we all carry.
With this fifth edition, High School confirms its place as a cultural platform that blends cinema, dialogue and entertainment for both young audiences and adults alike.
Also new this year is a focus on early childhood, with Un monde (Laura Wandel, 2021), which reveals how the social and emotional dynamics that define adolescence begin to emerge already in primary school. This broadens the lens of the cycle, showing adolescence as part of a wider developmental journey.
The program also highlights early works by renowned filmmakers. Brick (2005), the debut feature by Rian Johnson, reimagines film noir in a high school setting, while Juno (Jason Reitman, 2007) delivers a sharp and witty take on teenage pregnancy, featuring Elliot Page and Michael Cera. These films represent a generation that came of age in the 2000s and continue to resonate with new audiences through their universal themes.
The lineup includes bold and provocative titles such as Bully (Larry Clark, 2001), which portrays youth violence, drug abuse and sexual exploitation with raw honesty, and Paranoid Park (Gus Van Sant, 2009), a modern-day Crime and Punishment set in the world of teenage skateboarders. Recent films round out the selection, such as Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret (Kelly Fremon Craig, 2023), a sensitive adaptation of the coming-of-age novel by Judy Blume, and Después de Lucía (Michel Franco), a harrowing Mexican drama about bullying and grief.
As in previous editions, the cycle includes a welcome party and an end-of-year celebration, echoing the festive rituals of school life and adding a social dimension to the screenings. Also featured is Backstage, a musical documentary that offers an intimate look at the lives of young performers beyond the stage—touching on mental health, family ties, toxic fan relationships and the pressures of the music industry. The film presents a broad international perspective, from K-pop to Gaelic hip hop and Spanish urban pop, with a special tribute to Valencian group Zoo, who played their final concert in 2024.
